Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Saint Augustine's University Men No. 1, Women No. 2 in USTFCCCA National Track and Field Rankings

LEGENDARY COACH GEORGE WILLIAMS
SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY FALCONS
NEW ORLEANS – It was a Saint Augustine’s takeover in the sixth edition of the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Team Computer Rankings, released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The two-time defending national champion Falcon men reclaimed the No. 1 position they last held two weeks ago, while the SAU women flew up four spots to No. 2, just behind top-ranked Central Missouri.

With just over a month remaining until the NCAA Division II Championships in Allendale, Michigan, on May 21-23, the rankings continue to ebb and flow with each passing week; of the combined 20 teams in the men’s and women’s top 10s, 18 checked in at a different position than a week ago.

Case in point: only Saint Augustine’s and Ashland – the former men’s No. 1 which dropped down to No. 4 this week – remained part of the top five from last time; Pittsburg State fell from No. 3 to No. 11, Adams State from No. 4 to No. 6, and Angelo State from No. 5 to No. 10.

Assuming their positions and reprising former top-five ranks of their own were No. 2 Minnesota State, No. 3 Texas A&M-Commerce, and No. 5 Grand Valley State.

For Saint Augustine’s – which saw the rankings’ second-biggest improvement of 44.09 points to a 179.57 team rankings score – was boosted to the top, as usual, by its corps of dynamic short sprinters. Omar Johnson ran a DII-leading 45.78 and was joined in the top five by teammates Burkheart Ellis, Jr., at No. 3 and Khari Herbert at No. 5.

Ellis, Jr., also posted the No. 2 time at 200 meters, followed by No. 5 Daniel Jameison and No. 6 Johnson.

Those performances put the Falcons more than 40 points ahead of the group of teams from No. 2 Minnesota State through No. 8 Findlay that are all themselves separated by fewer than 20 points.

As has been the case of late, movement in the women’s top five was more subdued – but teams are starting to creep up on indoor champ Central Missouri. The Jennies checked in at 171.10 points – down about five points despite Heavin Warner’s NCAA Division II record in the hammer throw.
Just one week ago, only one team was within 30 points of UCM; this week, both Saint Augustine’s (150.91) and cross country champion Grand Valley State (147.56) are within 25 points, with No. 4 New Mexico Highlands, which dropped two spots this week, still very much in the hunt at 131.07.
Rounding out the top five was Pittsburg State (112.69) following a three-position jump.

Like their men’s teammates, the women of Saint Augustine’s moved up the rankings behind the power of their sprinters and hurdlers. Samantha Woodburn had herself a weekend at the CIAA Championships, moving up to No. 3 at 200 meters, No. 6 at 400 meters and running a leg of the No. 1 4×100 relay.

Also contributing big points for the Falcons were No. 6 Ornella Livingston at 200 meters, No. 6 Shakinah Brooks in the long jump, and No. 7 Shamia Lassiter in the 100-meter hurdles.

Three women’s teams made double-digit improvements in the rankings. No. 13 Winston-Salem State jumped up 12, No. 18 Johnson C. Smith leape a week-best 18 positions, and No. 23 Western Washington improved 14 spots.

Only one more men’s teams climbed 10-or-more spots, as No. 2 Minnesota State rose 13 notches from a week ago.

At the regional level, the eight regions saw a combined two new men’s No. 1 teams and three new top-ranked women’s squads.

Southern Connecticut’s men climbed to No. 1 in the East, while Shorter took command of the South.

For the women, Saint Augustine’s moved to No. 1 in the Atlantic, as did Southern Connecticut in the East and West Texas A&M in the South Central.

Below is the entire list of SAU Falcons and Lady Falcons ranked among the top 10 competitors in their respective track & field events in Division II. Go to ustfccca.org for the entire team and individual rankings.

WOMEN
(Ranking, Name, Event, Time or Mark)
1 – Tia-Adana Belle (400-Meter Hurdles) 58.01
1 – Shamia Lassiter, Samantha Woodburn, Shakinah Brooks, Ornella Livingston (4x100-Meter Relay) 45.17
2 – Samantha Woodburn, Cherrisse Lynch, Ornella Livingston, Tia-Adana Belle (4x400-Meter Relay) 3:39.99
3 – Samantha Woodburn (200-Meter Dash) 23.65
6 – Ornella Livingston (100-Meter Dash) 11.60
6 – Ornella Livingston (200-Meter Dash) 23.88
6 – Samantha Woodburn (400-Meter Dash) 54.07
6 – Shakinah Brooks (Long Jump) 19-11¾
7 – Shamia Lassiter (100-Meter Hurdles) 13.84

MEN
(Ranking, Name, Event, Time or Mark)
1 – Omar Johnson (400-Meter Dash) 45.78
1 – Khari Herbert, Jr., Burkheart Ellis, Jr., Immanuel Hutchinson, Omar Johnson (4x400-Meter Relay) 3:06.73
2 – Burkheart Ellis, Jr. (200-Meter Dash) 20.69
3 – Burkheart Ellis, Jr. (400-Meter Dash) 46.74
3 – Immanuel Hutchinson (800-Meter Run) 1:48.39
5 – Daniel Jamieson (200-Meter Dash) 20.83
5 – Khari Herbert, Jr. (400-Meter Dash) 46.81
5 – Claytin Lewis, Khari Herbert, Jr., Burkheart Ellis, Jr., Daniel Jamieson (4x100-Meter Relay) 40.38
6 – Omar Johnson (200-Meter Dash) 20.89
7 – David Shaw (Triple Jump) 49-5½

USTFCCCA NCAA Division II

Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National Team Computer Rankings (Top 25)

2015 Week #6 — April 21 (REVISED)
next ranking: April 28

View Complete Men’s National Coaches’ Poll
RankInstitutionPointsConferenceHead Coach (Yr)Last Week
1Saint Augustine’s179.57 CIAAGeorge Williams (39th)2
2Minnesota State139.29NSICJim Dilling (2nd)15
3Texas A&M-Commerce137.25Lone StarTom Dibbern (2nd)6
4Ashland134.87GLIACJud Logan (12th)1
5Grand Valley State127.71GLIACJerry Baltes (16th)7
6Adams State124.57RMACRock Light (2nd)4
7Texas A&M-Kingsville123.49Lone StarRyan Dall (7th)11
8Findlay120.46GLIACMarc Arce (27th)9
9West Texas A&M111.45Lone StarDarren Flowers (6th)10
10Angelo State108.55Lone StarJames Reid (16th)5
11Pittsburg State104.36MIAARuss Jewett (27th)3
12Chico State97.86CCAAOliver Hanf (3rd)8
13Shippensburg94.74PSACDave Osanitsch (10th)12
14Azusa Pacific92.69PacWestKevin Reid (20th)23
15Alaska Anchorage91.39GNACMichael Friess (25th)14
16Johnson C. Smith86.15CIAALennox Graham (8th)21
17Southern Indiana77.78GLVCMike Hillyard (17th)26
18Tiffin72.75GLIACJeremy Croy (15th)18
19Colorado Mines66.85RMACMatt Sparks (2nd)13
20Central Missouri63.70MIAAKirk Pedersen (19th)/Kip Janvrin (17th)19
21Missouri Southern60.11MIAABryan Schiding (2nd)20
22Cal Poly Pomona59.96CCAAOctavious Gillespie-Bennett (3rd)17
23CSU-Pueblo52.97RMACMatt Morris (2nd)32
24Lincoln (Mo.)52.90MIAAVictor Thomas (14th)25
25Tarleton State51.02Lone StarPatrick Ponder (9th)28

dropped out: No. 16 Academy of Art, No. 22 Western State, No. 24 Western Washington

View All Teams Beyond the Top 25

 

USTFCCCA NCAA Division II

Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Team Computer Rankings (Top 25)

2015 Week #6 — April 21 (REVISED)

next ranking: April 28

View Complete Women’s National Coaches’ Poll 

RankInstitutionPointsConferenceHead Coach (Yr)Last Week
1Central Missouri171.10MIAAKirk Pedersen (19th)/Kip Janvrin (17th)1
2Saint Augustine’s150.91CIAAGeorge Williams (39th)6
3Grand Valley State147.56GLIACJerry Baltes (16th)3
4New Mexico Highlands131.07RMACBob DeVries (23rd)2
5Pittsburg State112.69MIAARuss Jewett (29th)8
6Azusa Pacific110.09PacWestPreston Grey (1st)5
7West Texas A&M107.06Lone StarDarren Flowers (6th)7
8Ashland98.73GLIACJud Logan (12th)10
9Lincoln (Mo.)94.51MIAAVictor Thomas (14th)4
10Hillsdale91.39GLIACAndrew Towne (4th)11
11Adams State80.94RMACRock Light (2nd)21
12Angelo State78.59Lone StarJames Reid (16th)9
13Winston-Salem State74.62CIAAInez Turner (6th)25
14Simon Fraser72.38GNACBrit Townsend (15th)18
15Texas A&M-Kingsville65.04Lone StarRyan Dall (7th)15
16Wayne State (Neb.)61.97NSICMarlon Brink (15th)12
17Winona State60.41NSICMason Rebarchek (11th)14
18Johnson C. Smith58.62CIAALennox Graham (8th)36
19Lewis56.85GLVCDana Schwarting (10th)13
20Chico State56.68CCAARobert Nooney (2nd)16
21Alaska Anchorage53.05GNACMichael Friess (25th)28
22Shorter51.61Peach BeltScott Byrd (8th)17
23Western Washington51.54GNACPee Wee Halsell (28th)37
24Findlay50.35GLIACMarc Arce (27th)32
25Fort Hays State46.23MIAADennis Weber (22nd)22
d
ropped out: No. 19 Humboldt State, No. 20 Wayne State (Mich.), No. 22 Fort Hays State, No. 23 UC San Diego, No. 24 Livingstone

View All Teams Beyond the Top 25


COURTESY: Kyle Terwillegar, USTFCCCA Release and Saint Augustine's University Sports Information

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